EXHIBIT 10.23
SALON INTERNET, INC.
SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made
as of September 18, 1998, between SALON INTERNET, INC., a California corporation
(the "Company"), and the purchasers listed on the Schedule of Purchasers
("Schedule of Purchasers") attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Purchasers"). The
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parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Authorization and Sale of the Preferred Shares.
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1.1 Authorization; Filing of Amended and Restated Certificate of
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Incorporation. The Company has authorized the issuance and sale pursuant to the
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terms and conditions hereof of (i) up to 1,330,798 shares of its Series C
Preferred Stock, (the "Series C Shares"), having the rights, preferences and
privileges as set forth in the form of the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Company (the "Articles of Incorporation") attached hereto
as Exhibit B; and (ii) warrants to purchase up to 439,164 shares of the
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Company's Common Stock (the "Warrants"), in substantially the form attached
hereto as Exhibit H; and (iii) up to 439,164 shares of its Common Stock
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issuable upon valid exercise of the Warrants (the "Warrant Shares"). The
Company shall adopt and file the Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of
State of the State of California before the Closing (as defined below).
1.2 Sale and Issuance of the Series C Shares; Issuance of Warrants.
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Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at the Closing (as defined below)
the Company will (i) issue and sell to each Purchaser and each Purchaser will
purchase from the Company that number of shares of Series C Shares set forth
opposite each Purchaser's name on Exhibit A hereto at a purchase price of $2.63
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per share, and (ii) issue to each Purchaser Warrants to purchase up to that
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock set forth opposite each
Purchaser's name on Exhibit A hereto at an exercise price of $0.26 per share.
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2. Closing Dates; Delivery.
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2.1 Closing Dates. There may be more than one closing of the sale
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and purchase of the Series C Shares being purchased by the Purchasers hereunder
and the issuance of the Warrants hereunder (referred to as the "First Closing"
and the "Subsequent Closings"). The First Closing shall be held at the offices
of ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & Freidenrich, LLP ("GCWF"), ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ at 10:00 a.m. on September 18, 1998, or at such other time and place
as the Company and the majority in interest of the Purchasers mutually agree
upon (such date is hereinafter referred to as the "First Closing Date"). The
Subsequent Closings shall be held on or before October 9, 1998 at the offices of
GCWF on such dates as the Company and the Purchasers participating therein agree
(each such date is hereinafter referred to as a "Subsequent Closing Date"). The
First Closing and the Subsequent Closings may be referred to herein collectively
as the "Closings" and each individually as a "Closing," and the
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First Closing Date and the Subsequent Closing Dates may be referred to herein
collectively as the "Closing Dates" and each individually as a "Closing Date."
Any shares of Series C Preferred Stock sold in a Subsequent Closing shall be
deemed to be "Series C Shares" for all purposes under this Agreement and any
purchasers thereof shall be deemed to be "Purchasers" for all purposes under
this Agreement, and any Warrants issued in a Subsequent Closing shall be deemed
to be "Warrants" for all purposes under this Agreement.
2.2 Delivery. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, at a Closing,
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the Company will deliver to each Purchaser a certificate or certificates
representing the number of Series C Shares designated in Exhibit A to be issued
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to such Purchaser, against payment of the purchase price therefor by delivery of
a check or wire transfer, payable to the order of the Company.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby
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represents and warrants to the Purchasers that except as set forth on a Schedule
of Exceptions attached hereto as Exhibit C, which exceptions shall be deemed to
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be representations and warranties as if made hereunder:
3.1 Organization and Standing. The Company is a corporation duly
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organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
California and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its
businesses as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted. The Company is
qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation in all
jurisdictions where such qualification or licensing is required, except where
the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect upon the
Company.
3.2 Corporate Power. The Company has now, or will have at the
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Closing Date, all requisite corporate power necessary for the authorization,
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Second Amended and Restated Rights
Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the "Rights Agreement"),
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First Amended and Restated Voting Agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit E (the "Voting Agreement") and the Warrants. This Agreement, the Rights
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Agreement, the Voting Agreement and the Warrants are valid and binding
obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as
the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, and other laws of
general application affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights.
3.3 Subsidiaries. The Company does not control, directly or
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indirectly, any other corporation, association or business entity.
3.4 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company is
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25,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 17,435,000 shares of Preferred Stock, of
which 5,017,500 have been designated Series A Preferred Stock, 5,017,500 have
been designated Series A-1 Preferred Stock, 2,200,000 have been designated
Series B Preferred Stock, 2,200,000 have been designated Series B-1 Preferred
Stock, 1,500,000 have been designated Series C Preferred Stock and 1,500,000
have been designated Series C-1 Preferred Stock. There are issued and
outstanding 773,021 shares of the Company's Common Stock, 5,000,000 shares of
Series A Preferred Stock and no shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, 1,898,733
shares of Series B Preferred Stock, and
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no shares of Series B-1, Series C or Series C-1 Preferred Stock. The holders of
record of the presently issued and outstanding Common Stock, options to purchase
Common Stock, Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock immediately
prior to the Closing are as set forth on Exhibit F ("Shareholder and
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Optionholder List"). All such issued and outstanding shares have been duly
authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, and were issued
in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws concerning the issuance
of securities. The holders of any and all rights, options, warrants or
conversion rights to purchase or acquire from the Company any of its capital
stock, along with the number of shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise
of such rights, are set forth in Exhibit F hereto. The Company has reserved at
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least 5,017,500 shares of Common Stock for issuance upon conversion of the
Series A and Series A-1 Preferred Stock 2,200,000 shares of Common Stock for
issuance upon conversion of the Series B and Series B-1 Preferred Stock, and
3,750,000 shares of Common Stock for future issuance to employees, consultants,
officers or directors upon exercise of options granted or to be granted under
stock or other option plans or arrangements approved by the Board of Directors.
Except for such rights, there are no outstanding rights, options, warrants,
conversion rights or agreements for the purchase or acquisition from the Company
of any shares of its capital stock. Except for the Voting Agreement executed
concurrently herewith, the Company is not a party or subject to any agreement or
understanding between any persons or entities, which affects or relates to the
voting or giving of written consents with respect to any securities.
3.5 Authorization.
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(a) Corporate Action. All corporate action on the part of the
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Company, its officers, directors and stockholders necessary for the sale and
issuance of the Series C Shares, the issuance of the Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Series C Shares, the issuance of the Warrants and the
authorization, execution and performance of the Company's obligations hereunder
and under the Rights Agreement has been taken or will be taken prior to the
Closing. The Company has duly reserved an aggregate of 1,330,798 shares of
Common Stock for issuance upon conversion of the Series C Shares and an
aggregate of 439,164 shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of the
Warrants.
(b) Valid Issuance. The Series C Shares when issued in
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compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, and the shares of Common Stock
issued upon conversion of the Series C Shares and the shares of Common Stock
issued upon exercise of the Warrants, when issued in accordance with the
provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, will be validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable and will be free of any liens or encumbrances created by the
Company; provided, however, that all such shares may be subject to restrictions
on transfer under state and/or federal securities laws as set forth herein, and
as may be required by future changes in such laws. The rights, preferences,
privileges and restrictions of the Series C Shares are as set forth in the
Articles of Incorporation.
3.6 No Preemptive Rights. No person has any right of first refusal
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or any preemptive rights in connection with the issuance of the Series C Shares,
the issuance of the Common Stock upon
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conversion of the Series C Shares, the issuance of Common Stock upon exercise of
the Warrants, or, except as set forth in the Rights Agreement, any future
issuances of securities by the Company.
3.7 Patents, Trademarks, etc. The Company owns and possesses or is
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licensed under all patents, patent applications, licenses, trademarks, trade
names, brand names, trade secrets, inventions and copyrights employed in the
operation of its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, with
no infringement of or conflict with the rights of others respecting any of the
same. To the best knowledge of the Company, the operation of the Company's
business as now conducted or as proposed to be conducted does not infringe any
patent, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of any third
parties. There are no outstanding options, licenses, or agreements of any kind
relating to the foregoing, nor is the Company bound by or a party to any
options, licenses or agreements of any kind with respect to patents, patent
applications, licenses, trademarks, trade names, brand names, inventions,
proprietary rights and copyrights of any other person or entity. The Company is
not obligated to make any payments by way of royalties, fees or otherwise to any
owner, licensor of, or other claimant to any patent, trademark, trade name,
copyright or other intangible asset, with respect to the use thereof or in
connection with the conduct of its business, or otherwise. The Company has not
received any communications alleging that it has violated or, by conducting its
business as proposed, would violate any of the patents, trademarks, service
marks, trade names, copyrights or trade secrets or other proprietary rights of
any other person or entity, nor is the Company aware of any basis for the
foregoing. There are no agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts,
judgments, orders, writs of decrees to which the Company is a party or by which
it is bound which involve indemnification by the Company with respect to
infringements of proprietary rights.
3.8 Compliance with Other Instruments. The Company is not in
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violation of any term of its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, nor is the
Company in violation of or in default in any material respect under the terms of
any mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, instrument, judgment or decree,
the violation of which would have a material adverse effect on the Company as a
whole, and to the best knowledge of the Company, is not in violation of any
order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company, the violation of
which would have a material adverse effect on the Company. The execution,
delivery and performance of and compliance with this Agreement or the Rights
Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the Series C Shares and the Warrants
will not (a) result in any such violation, or (b) be in conflict with or
constitute a default under any such term, or (c) result in the creation of any
mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or charge upon any of the properties or
assets of the Company pursuant to any such term. To the best knowledge of the
Company, there is no such term or any such order, statute, rule or regulation
which adversely affects, or in the future may materially adversely affect, the
business, prospects, condition, affairs or operations of the Company or any of
its properties or assets.
3.9 Proprietary Agreements; Employees. Each employee of the Company
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has executed an agreement regarding confidentiality and proprietary information,
the form of which has been provided to special counsel to the Purchasers. None
of its employees is in violation thereof, and the Company will use its best
efforts to prevent such violations. To the best
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knowledge of the Company, the employees of the Company are not obligated under
any contract (including licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature) or
other agreement, or subject to any judgment, decree or order of any court or
administrative agency, that would interfere with the use of his or her best
efforts to promote the interests of the Company or that would conflict with the
Company's business as conducted or as proposed to be conducted or that would
prevent any such employee from assigning inventions to the Company. Neither the
execution nor delivery of this Agreement or the Rights Agreement, nor the
carrying on of the Company's business as proposed, will conflict with or result
in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default
under, any contract, covenant or instrument under which any of such employees is
now obligated. The Company does not believe that it is or will be necessary for
the Company to utilize any inventions of any of its employees made prior to
their employment by the Company.
3.10 Litigation, etc. There is no action, proceeding or
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investigation pending, or threatened, against the Company or its officers,
directors or shareholders, or to the best of the Company's knowledge, against
employees of the Company (or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, any basis
therefor or threat thereof): (1) which might result, either individually or in
the aggregate, in (a) any material adverse change in the business, prospects,
conditions, affairs or operations of the Company or in any of its properties or
assets, or (b) any material impairment of the right or ability of the Company to
carry on its business as now conducted or as proposed to be conducted, or (c)
any material liability on the part of the Company; or (2) which questions the
validity of this Agreement, the Rights Agreement, or any action taken or to be
taken in connection herewith, including in each case, without limitation,
actions pending or threatened involving the prior employment of any of the
Company's employees, the use in connection with the Company's business of any
information or techniques allegedly proprietary to any of the former employers
of such employees or their obligations under any agreements with prior
employers. The Company is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any
order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or government agency or
instrumentality. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation by the
Company currently pending or which the Company currently intends to initiate.
3.11 Governmental Consent. No consent, approval or authorization of
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or designation, declaration or filing with any governmental authority on the
part of the Company is required in connection with: (a) the valid execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the Rights Agreement; or (b) the offer, sale or
issuance of the Series C Shares, the issuance of the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Series C Shares, (c) the issuance of the
Warrants, the issuance of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants or (d) the obtaining of the consents, permits and waivers specified in
subsection 5.1(b) hereof.
3.12 Offering. In reliance on the representations and warranties of
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the Purchasers in Section 4 hereof, the offer, sale and issuance of the Series C
Shares and the issuance of the Warrants in conformity with the terms of this
Agreement will not result in a violation of the requirements of Section 5 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or the qualification
or registration requirements of applicable blue sky laws.
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3.13 Taxes. The Company has filed all tax returns that are required
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to have been filed with appropriate federal, state, county and local
governmental agencies or instrumentalities, except where the failure to do so
would not have a material adverse effect upon the Company, taken as a whole.
The Company has not elected pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended ("Code"), to be treated as a Subchapter S corporation or a collapsible
corporation pursuant to Section 341(f) or Section 1362(a) of the Code, nor has
it made any other elections pursuant to the Code (other than elections which
relate solely to methods of accounting, depreciation or amortization) which
would have a material effect on the Company, its financial condition, its
business as presently conducted or proposed to be conducted or any of its
properties or material assets. The Company has paid or established reserves for
all income, franchise and other taxes, assessments, governmental charges,
penalties, interest and fines due and payable by them on or before the Closing.
3.14 Title. The Company owns its property and assets free and clear
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of all liens, mortgages, loans or encumbrances except liens for current taxes,
and such encumbrances and liens which arise in the ordinary course of business
and do not materially impair the Company's ownership or use of such property or
assets. With respect to the property and assets leased by the Company, the
Company is in compliance with such leases and, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, holds valid leasehold interests free and clear of any liens, claims
or encumbrances.
3.15 Material Contracts and Commitments. All of the contracts,
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mortgages, indentures, agreements, instruments and transactions to which the
Company is a party or by which it is bound (including purchase orders to the
Company or placed by the Company) which involve obligations of, or payments to,
the Company in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) and all
agreements between the Company and its officers, directors, consultants and
employees are set forth on the list attached hereto as Exhibit G (the
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"Contracts"), copies of which have been delivered to special counsel to the
Purchasers. All of the Contracts are valid, binding and in full force and
effect in all material respects and enforceable by the Company in accordance
with their respective terms in all material respects, subject to the effect of
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of
general application relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors' rights
and rules or laws concerning equitable remedies. The Company is not in material
default under any of such Contracts.
3.16 Financial Statements. The Company has delivered to the
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Purchasers the unaudited balance sheets and related statements of operation as
of July 31, 1998 and for the six month period then ended (the "Financial
Statements"). The Financial Statements are in accordance with the books and
records of the Company, are complete and correct, and fairly and accurately
present the financial condition and operating results of the Company for the
periods indicated therein, all in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP"), except that the unaudited Financial Statements do not
contain footnotes or reflect the interperiod adjustments required by GAAP. As
of July 31, 1998, the Company did not have any liabilities, absolute,
contingent, or otherwise, which in accordance with GAAP are required to be
disclosed or reserved for other than as set forth in the Financial Statements.
Since July 31, 1998, there has been no material adverse change in the Company's
financial condition or assets. The Company
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maintains and will continue to maintain a standard system of accounting
established and administered in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.
3.17 Absence of Changes. Since July 31, 1998 (a) the Company has not
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entered into any transaction which was not in the ordinary course of business,
(b) there has been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or
otherwise) of the business, property, assets or liabilities of the Company other
than changes in the ordinary course of its business, none of which, individually
or in the aggregate, has been materially adverse, (c) there has been no damage
to, destruction of or loss of physical property (whether or not covered by
insurance) materially adversely affecting the assets, prospects, financial
condition, operating results, business or operations of the Company, (d) the
Company has not declared or paid any dividend or made any distribution on its
stock, or redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired any of its stock, (e) the
Company has not materially changed any compensation arrangement or agreement
with any of its key employees or executive officers, or materially changed the
rate of pay of its employees as a group, (f) the Company has not changed or
amended any material contract by which the Company or any of its assets are
bound or subject, except as contemplated by this Agreement, (g) there has been
no resignation or termination of employment of any key officer or employee of
the Company and the Company does not know of any impending resignation or
termination of employment of any such officer or employee that if consummated
would have a material adverse effect on the business of the Company, (h) there
has been no change, except in the ordinary course of business, in the material
contingent obligations of the Company (nor in any contingent obligation of the
Company regarding any director, stockholder or key employee or officer of the
Company) by way of guaranty, endorsement, indemnity, warranty or otherwise, (i)
there have been no loans made by the Company to any of its employees, officers
or directors other than travel advances and other advances made in the ordinary
course of business, (j) there has been no waiver by the Company of a valuable
right or of a material debt owing to it, and (k) there has not been any
satisfaction or discharge of any lien, claims or encumbrance or any payment of
any obligation by the Company, except in the ordinary course of business and
which is not material to the assets, properties, financial condition, operating
results or business of the Company.
3.18 Outstanding Indebtedness. The Company has no indebtedness for
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borrowed money which it has directly or indirectly created, incurred, assumed or
guaranteed, or with respect to which it has otherwise become liable, directly or
indirectly.
3.19 Registration Rights. Other than as granted pursuant to the
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Rights Agreement, the Company has not granted or agreed to grant any rights to
register (as that term is defined in the Rights Agreement) securities, including
piggyback registration rights, to any person or entity.
3.20 Certain Transactions. The Company is not indebted, directly or
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indirectly, to any of its employees, officers, directors or stockholders or to
their spouses or children, in any amount whatsoever; and none of said employees,
officers, directors, stockholders, or any member of their immediate families,
are indebted to the Company or have any direct or indirect ownership interest in
any firm or corporation with which the Company is affiliated or with which
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the Company has a business relationship. No such employee, officer, director,
stockholder, or any member of their immediate families, is, directly or
indirectly, interested in any material contract with the Company. The Company is
not guarantor or indemnitor of any indebtedness of any other person, firm or
corporation.
3.21 Corporate Documents; Minute Books. Except for amendments
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necessary to satisfy representations and warranties or conditions contained
herein (the form of which amendments has been approved by the Purchasers), the
Bylaws of the Company are in the form previously provided to special counsel to
the Purchasers. The minute books of the Company previously provided to special
counsel to the Purchasers contain a complete summary of all meetings of
directors and stockholders since the time of incorporation of the Company.
3.22 Employee Benefit Plans. The Company does not have any "employee
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benefit plan" as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended.
3.23 Environmental and Safety Laws. To the best of its knowledge,
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the Company is not in violation of any applicable statute, law, or regulation
relating to the environment or occupational health and safety, and to the best
of its knowledge, no material expenditures are or will be required in order to
comply with any such existing statute, law, or regulation.
3.24 Insurance. The Company has in full force and effect fire and
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casualty insurance policies, and insurance against other hazards, risks and
liabilities to persons and property to the extent and in the manner customary
for companies in similar businesses similarly situated.
3.25 Labor Agreements and Actions. The Company is not aware that any
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officer or key employee intends to terminate his or her employment with the
Company, nor does the Company have a present intention to terminate the
employment of any of the foregoing. Subject to general principles related to
wrongful termination of employees, the employment of each officer and employee
of the Company is terminable at the will of the Company.
3.26 Section 83(b) Elections. To the best of the Company's
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knowledge, no elections and notices pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code and
any analogous provisions of applicable state tax laws have been filed by
individuals who have purchased shares of the Company's Common Stock.
3.27 Disclosure. No representation or warranty by the Company in
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this Agreement, or in any document or certificate furnished or to be furnished
to the Purchasers pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, when taken together, contains or will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements made herein and therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company has fully
provided the Purchasers with all the information which the Purchasers have
requested for deciding whether to purchase the Series C Shares and the Warrants.
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4. Representations and Warranties of Purchasers and Restrictions on
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Transfer Imposed by the Securities Act.
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4.1 Representations and Warranties by the Purchasers. Each
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Purchaser, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company as
follows:
(a) Investment Intent. This Agreement is made with the
Purchaser in reliance upon such Purchaser's representation to the Company,
evidenced by Purchaser's execution of this Agreement, that Purchaser is
acquiring the Series C Shares, the Warrants and the Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of Series C Shares and upon exercise of the Warrants (collectively
the "Securities") for investment for such Purchaser's own account, for
investment and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any
distribution or public offering thereof within the meaning of the Securities
Act. Purchaser has the full right, power and authority to enter into and perform
this Agreement and the Rights Agreement, and this Agreement and the Rights
Agreement constitute valid and binding obligations upon it.
(b) Series C Shares and Warrants Not Registered. Purchaser
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understands and acknowledges that the offering of the Series C Shares and
Warrants pursuant to this Agreement will not be registered under the Securities
Act or qualified under applicable blue sky laws on the grounds that the offering
and sale of securities contemplated by this Agreement are exempt from
registration under the Securities Act and exempt from qualifications available
under applicable blue sky laws, and that the Company's reliance upon such
exemptions is predicated upon such Purchaser's representations set forth in this
Agreement. Purchaser acknowledges and understands that the Securities must be
held indefinitely unless the Securities are subsequently registered under the
Securities Act and qualified under applicable blue sky laws or an exemption from
such registration and such qualification is available.
(c) No Transfer. Purchaser covenants that in no event will such
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Purchaser dispose of any of the Securities (other than in conjunction with an
effective registration statement for the Securities under the Securities Act or
in compliance with Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act) unless and
until (i) such Purchaser shall have notified the Company of the proposed
disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a statement of the
circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and (ii) if reasonably
requested by the Company, such Purchaser shall have furnished the Company with
an opinion of counsel to the effect that (x) such disposition will not require
registration under the Securities Act and (y) appropriate action necessary for
compliance with the Securities Act and other applicable state, local or foreign
law has been taken. It is agreed that the Company will not require opinions of
counsel for transactions made pursuant to Rule 144.
(d) Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding the provisions of
subsection (c) above, no registration statement or opinion of counsel shall be
necessary for a transfer by a Purchaser which is a partnership to a partner of
such partnership or a former partner of such partnership who leaves such
partnership after the date hereof, or to the estate of any such partner or
former partner or the transfer by gift, will or intestate succession of any
partner to his
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spouse or lineal descendants or ancestors, if the transferee agrees in writing
to be bound by the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if he were an
original Purchaser hereunder.
(e) Knowledge and Experience. Purchaser (i) has such knowledge
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and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating
the merits and risks of such Purchaser's prospective investment in the
Securities; (ii) has the ability to bear the economic risks of such Purchaser's
prospective investment; (iii) has been furnished with and has had access to such
information as such Purchaser has considered necessary to make a determination
as to the purchase of the Securities together with such additional information
as is necessary to verify the accuracy of the information supplied; (iv) has had
all questions which have been asked by such Purchaser satisfactorily answered by
the Company; and (v) has not been offered the Securities by any form of
advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any
newspaper, magazine, or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, or
any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any such media.
(f) Accredited Investor. Purchaser is an "accredited investor"
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as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
4.2 Legends. Each certificate representing the Securities may be
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endorsed with the following legends:
(a) Federal Legend. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS
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CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED (THE "ACT") AND ARE "RESTRICTED SECURITIES" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144
PROMULGATED UNDER THE ACT. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE OR
OTHERWISE DISTRIBUTED EXCEPT (i) IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT FOR THE SHARES UNDER THE ACT OR (ii) IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144, OR
(iii) PURSUANT TO AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION OR COMPLIANCE IS
NOT REQUIRED AS TO SAID SALE, OFFER OR DISTRIBUTION.
(b) Other Legends. Any other legends required by applicable
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state blue sky laws.
The Company need not register a transfer of legended Securities, and may also
instruct its transfer agent not to register the transfer of the Securities,
unless the conditions specified in each of the foregoing legends are satisfied.
4.3 Removal of Legend and Transfer Restrictions. Any legend endorsed
-------------------------------------------
on a certificate pursuant to subsection 4.2(a) and the stop transfer
instructions with respect to such legended Securities shall be removed, and the
Company shall issue a certificate without such legend to the holder of such
Securities if such Securities are registered under the Securities Act and a
prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act is
available or if such holder satisfies the requirements of Rule 144(k).
10
5. Conditions to Closing.
---------------------
5.1 Conditions to Purchasers' Obligations. The obligation of each
-------------------------------------
Purchaser to purchase the Series C Shares and the Warrants at the Closing is
subject to the fulfillment to the Purchaser's satisfaction, on or prior to the
Closing Date, of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the
Purchaser:
(a) Representations and Warranties Correct; Performance of
--------------------------------------- --------------
Obligations. The representations and warranties made by the Company in Section
-----------
3 hereof shall be true and correct when made, and shall be true and correct in
all material respects on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if
they had been made on and as of said date. The Company's business and assets
shall not have been adversely affected in any material way prior to the Closing
Date. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations
and conditions herein required to be performed or observed by it on or prior to
the Closing Date.
(b) Consents and Waivers. The Company shall have obtained in a
--------------------
timely fashion any and all consents, permits and waivers necessary or
appropriate for consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and the Rights Agreement.
(c) Rights Agreement. The Company and the Purchasers shall have
----------------
executed the Rights Agreement.
(d) Voting Agreement. The Company and the Purchasers shall have
----------------
executed the Voting Agreement.
(e) Compliance Certificate. The Company shall have delivered a
----------------------
Certificate, executed on behalf of the Company by the President, dated the
Closing Date, certifying to the fulfillment of the conditions specified in
subsections (a), (b), (c) and (d).
(f) Secretary Certificate. The Company shall have delivered a
---------------------
Certificate, executed on behalf of the Company by the Secretary, dated the
Closing Date, certifying the Board of Directors and shareholders resolutions
approving this Agreement, the Rights Agreement and the issuance of the Series C
Shares and certifying the current versions of the Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws of the Company.
(g) Opinion of Counsel. The Purchasers shall have received an
------------------
opinion from ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & Freidenrich, the Company's counsel, satisfactory
in form to special counsel for the Purchasers, substantially in the form
attached hereto as Schedule I.
----------
(h) Common Stock Warrants. The Company shall have issued to the
---------------------
Purchasers the Warrants.
5.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The Company's
----------------------------------------
obligation to sell and issue the Series C Shares and issue the Warrants at the
Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the satisfaction of the Company on or
prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any of which may be
waived by the Company:
11
(a) Representations and Warranties Correct. The representations
--------------------------------------
and warranties made by each Purchaser in Section 4 hereof shall be true and
correct when made, and shall be true and correct on the Closing Date with the
same force and effect as if they had been made on and as of said date.
(b) Conditions Fulfilled. The conditions set forth in
--------------------
subsections (b), (c) and (d) of Section 5.1 shall have been fulfilled.
6. Affirmative Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby covenants
------------------------------------
and agrees as follows:
6.1 Financial Information. Until the first to occur of (i) the date
---------------------
on which the Company is required to file a report pursuant to Section 13(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), by reason of the
Company having registered any of its securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act or (ii) quotations for the Common Stock of the Company are reported
by the automated quotations system operated by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. or by an equivalent quotations system or (iii) shares
of the Common Stock of the Company are listed on a national securities exchange
registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act, the Company will furnish to each
Purchaser:
(a) so long as such Purchaser or its affiliates own any of the
Series C Shares or Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series C Shares,
as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, and in any event
within 120 days thereafter, consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its
subsidiaries, if any, as at the end of such fiscal year, and consolidated
statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flow of the Company
and its subsidiaries, if any, for such year, prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, all in reasonable detail and certified
by independent public accountants of recognized national standing selected by
the Company; and
(b) so long as the Purchaser continues to hold any of the Series
C Shares or Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series C Shares, as soon
as practicable after the end of each fiscal quarter, and in any event within 45
days thereafter, consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its
subsidiaries, if any, as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and consolidated
statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flow of the Company
and its subsidiaries, if any, for such quarter, prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles (except for required footnotes), all in
reasonable detail, subject to changes resulting from year-end audit adjustments
and inter-period allocations; and
(c) so long as the Purchaser continues to hold at least 100,000
shares of the Series C Shares (as adjusted for stock splits, combinations,
dividends, distributions or recapitalizations), as soon as practicable after the
end of each month and in any event within 30 days thereafter, consolidated
balance sheets of the Company and its subsidiaries, if any, as of the end of
such month and consolidated statements of income and cash flow statements, for
such month and for the current fiscal year to date, prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles (except for required footnotes), all in
reasonable detail, subject to changes resulting from year-end audit adjustments
and inter-period allocations; and
12
(d) so long as the Purchaser continues to hold at least 100,000
shares of the Series C Shares (as adjusted for stock splits, combinations,
dividends, distributions or recapitalizations), as soon as practicable and in
any event no later than thirty days before the end of the fiscal year, an annual
budget (consisting of projected income statements and projected cash flow
statements reported on a monthly basis) for the subsequent fiscal year.
(e) so long as ASCII Ventures ("ASCII") holds at least 250,000
shares of Series C Shares (as adjusted for stock splits, combinations,
dividends, distributions or recapitalizations), and ASCII is not represented on
the Company's Board of Directors, the Company shall give a representative of
ASCII access to board meetings, copies of all notices, minutes, consents and
other material that the Company provides to its directors, except that the
representative may be excluded from access to any material or meeting or portion
thereof if the Company believes that such exclusion is reasonably necessary to
preserve the attorney-client privilege, to protect confidential information, or
for other similar reasons. ASCII agrees, and any representative of ASCII will
agree, to hold in confidence and trust and not use or disclose any confidential
information provided to or learned by it in connection with its rights under
this letter.
(f) so long as Adobe Ventures II L.P. ("Adobe") holds at least
250,000 shares of Series C Shares (as adjusted for stock splits, combinations,
dividends, distributions or recapitalizations), and Adobe has only one member on
the Company's Board of Directors, the Company shall give a representative of
Adobe access to board meetings, copies of all notices, minutes, consents and
other material that the Company provides to its directors, except that the
representative may be excluded from access to any material or meeting or portion
thereof if the Company believes that such exclusion is reasonably necessary to
preserve the attorney-client privilege, to protect confidential information, or
for other similar reasons. Adobe agrees, and any representative of Adobe will
agree, to hold in confidence and trust and not use or disclose any confidential
information provided to or learned by it in connection with its rights under
this letter.
6.2 Conflicts of Interests. The Company shall use its best efforts
----------------------
to ensure that the Company's employees, during the term of their employment with
the Company, do not engage in activities which would result in a conflict of
interest with the Company. The Company's obligations hereunder include, but are
not limited to, requiring that the Company's employees devote their primary
productive time, ability and attention to the business of the Company (provided,
however, the Company's employees may engage in other professional activity if
such activity does not materially interfere with their obligations to the
Company), and requiring that the Company's employees enter into agreements
regarding proprietary information and confidentiality.
6.3 Proprietary Rights Agreements. The Company will enter into a
-----------------------------
confidentiality and proprietary rights agreement with each new employee engaged
by the Company at the time of their employment by the Company.
13
6.4 Future Stock Issuances. The Company agrees, unless otherwise
----------------------
approved by at least 80% of the Directors then in office, that after the
Closing, stock, stock options, or other securities convertible into or
exchangeable for stock, granted to employees, consultants or directors will be
granted with an exercise or purchase price of no less than fair market value at
the time of grant and with vesting schedule of four years (25% after the first
year of employment or service and remainder vesting in equal quarterly
increments over the following three years).
6.5 Inspection. The Company shall permit each Purchaser, at such
----------
Purchaser's expense, to visit and inspect the Company's properties, to examine
its books of account and records and to discuss the Company's affairs, finances
and accounts with its officers, all at such reasonable times as may be requested
by such Purchaser; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated
pursuant to this Section 6.5 to provide access to any information which it
reasonably considers to be a trade secret or similar confidential information.
6.6 Special Board Approval Items. Unless otherwise indicated below,
----------------------------
the Company will not take any of the following actions unless they are approved
by the Board of Directors or taken pursuant to Board approved policies:
(a) Hiring of all officers of the Company;
(b) Entering into employment agreements (may be approved by a
majority of disinterested Directors, or a compensation committee of the Board of
Directors);
(c) Establish compensation programs for all officers and key
employees, including base salaries and bonus programs (may be approved by a
majority of disinterested Directors or by a compensation committee, when
established);
(d) Establish stock option programs and grants of stock options,
stock or rights to acquire stock (may be approved by a majority of disinterested
Directors or by a compensation committee, when established);
(e) Establishment of annual budgets, business and financial
plans;
(f) Entering into any real estate lease or purchase arrangement;
(g) Entering into any obligations or commitments, including
capital equipment leases or purchases, with total value greater than $50,000 and
which are outside the most recent business plan or budget approved by the Board
of Directors;
(h) Entering into agreements to license the Company's content or
technology for foreign markets or other publications (may be approved by a
majority of disinterested Directors); and
(i) Amendment of Editorial Policy of the Company and the
establishment and membership of the Editorial Advisory Board; provided however
that the day-
14
to-day editorial management of these publications will be the sole
responsibility of the editor and staff.
7. Miscellaneous.
-------------
7.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all
-------------
respects by the laws of the State of California as such laws are applied to
agreements between California residents entered into and to be performed
entirely within California.
7.2 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and
--------
agreements made herein shall survive the Closing of the transactions
contemplated hereby, notwithstanding any investigation made by the Purchasers.
All statements as to factual matters contained in any certificate or other
instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant hereto or in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to be
representations and warranties by the Company hereunder as of the date of such
certificate or instrument.
7.3 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly
----------------------
provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be
binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of
the parties hereto.
7.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other documents
----------------
delivered pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and
agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof and
they supersede, merge and render void every other prior written and/or oral
understanding or agreement among or between the parties hereto.
7.5 Notices, etc. All notices and other communications required or
------------
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally,
mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, or delivered by courier or
overnight delivery, addressed (a) if to a Purchaser, at such Purchaser's address
set forth in the Schedule of Purchasers, or at such other address as such
Purchaser shall have furnished to the Company in writing or (b) if to the
Company, at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or at such
other address as the Company shall have furnished to the Purchasers in writing.
Notices that are mailed shall be deemed received five days after deposit in the
United States mail.
7.6 Severability. In case any provision of this Agreement shall
------------
be found by a court of law to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
7.7 Finder's Fees and Other Fees.
----------------------------
(a) The Company (i) represents and warrants that it has retained
no finder or broker in connection with the transactions contemplated by his
Agreement and, (ii) hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold Purchasers harmless
from and against any liability for commission or compensation in the nature of a
finder's fee to any broker or other person or firm (and the costs and expenses
of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the
Company, or any of its employees or representatives, is responsible.
15
(b) Each Purchaser (i) represents and warrants that it has retained
no finder or broker in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and (ii) hereby agrees to indemnify and to hold the Company harmless
from and against any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature
of a finder's fee to any broker or other person or firm (and the costs and
expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which
such Purchaser, or any of its employees or representatives, are responsible.
7.8 Expenses. The Company and the Purchasers shall each bear
--------
their own expenses and legal fees in connection with the consummation of this
transaction; provided, however, that the Company will pay the reasonable,
documented fees and disbursements up to an aggregate of $15,000 of special legal
counsel for the Purchasers in connection with the transaction contemplated by
this Agreement.
7.9 Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and
--------------------
subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not
to be considered in construing this Agreement.
7.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one instrument.
7.11 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any
-------------------
right, power or remedy accruing to the Company or to any holder of any
securities issued or to be issued hereunder shall impair any such right, power
or remedy of the Company or such holder, nor shall it be construed to be a
waiver of any breach or default under this Agreement, or an acquiescence
therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor
shall any delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy or any waiver
of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other right, power or
remedy or breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. All remedies,
either under this Agreement, or by law otherwise afforded to the Company or any
holder, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
16
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Series C
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement as of the date first written above.
SALON INTERNET, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, President
PURCHASERS:
ADOBE VENTURES II L.P.
By: Its general partner,
H&Q Adobe Ventures Management L.P.,
By: Its general partner,
H&Q Adobe Ventures Management Corp.,
By: Its president,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇'▇▇▇▇▇
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇'▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Title: President
------------------------------
H&Q SALON INVESTORS, L.P.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇'▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
Title: President
------------------------------
ASCII VENTURES
By: /s/ Authorized Signatory
---------------------------------
Title: Title
------------------------------
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SALON INTERNET, INC.
SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT]
17
LIST OF EXHIBITS
----------------
Exhibit A - Schedule of Purchasers
Exhibit B - Articles of Incorporation
Exhibit C - Schedule of Exceptions
Exhibit D - Rights Agreement
Exhibit E - Voting Agreement
Exhibit F - Shareholder and Optionholder List
Exhibit G - Material Contracts
Exhibit H - Form of Warrant
Exhibit I - Form of Opinion of ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & Freidenrich LLP
18
EXHIBIT A
---------
Schedule of Purchasers
First Closing
Name No. of Shares Purchase Price Warrants
---- ------------- -------------- --------
Adobe Ventures II L.P.
▇/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ 855,513 $2,249,999.19 282,320
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇'▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
ASCII Ventures 190,114 499,999.82 62,738
--------- ------------ -------
TOTAL: 1,045,627 $2,749,999.01 345,058
19
EXHIBIT B
---------
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
20
EXHIBIT C
---------
SCHEDULE OF EXCEPTIONS
21
EXHIBIT D
---------
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
22
EXHIBIT E
---------
VOTING AGREEMENT
23
EXHIBIT F
---------
LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS
AND OPTION HOLDERS
24
EXHIBIT G
---------
LIST OF MATERIAL CONTRACTS
25
EXHIBIT H
---------
FORM OF WARRANT
1
EXHIBIT I
---------
FORM OF LEGAL OPINION
1